Wayne Ellington already making his presence felt

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cavaliers' Wayne Ellington, pictured, is shown celebrating a 3-pointer against the Bucks last Friday in Cleveland. The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder, along with Marreese Speights were acquired from the Grizzlies last week. The Cavs also received a future first-round pick and Josh Selby, who was sent to the D-League's Canton Charge affiliate.

INDEPENDENCE -- From the minute he arrived from Memphis, Wayne Ellington has been given crunch-time minutes.

Cavaliers coach Byron Scott must have wanted to see how he'd perform with the game on the line.

Ellington hasn't been a disappointment.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder came to the Cavs with the reputation of being a clutch, long-range shooter. However, in his first two games with the Cavaliers, he's also been an in-your-grill-type defender.

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The Cavs (13-32) have won three in a row, as well as four of the last five, heading into the Golden State game at 7 Tuesday night at Quicken Loans Arena. The Warriors check in at 26-17.

"I'm glad we got here today and got some practice time," Ellington said. "We're trying to get more comfortable with what we're doing here. We're trying to bring energy.

"They threw us out there in the fire. We were just playing basketball. We were going hard. We came out with pretty good results."

Ellington and backup center Marreese Speights were the kingpins in a deal with the Grizzlies last Tuesday. The Cavs also received a future first-round pick.

"We're bringing a lot of energy on both ends of the floor," Ellington said. "Playing with Mo for the first half of the season makes it a little easier out there on the floor. It's more comfortable in general.

The 25-year-old veterans came from the Grizzlies, one of the top defensive teams in the Western Conference.

"We brought some energy," Ellington said. "We both have some experience in this league and know what it takes to win. We didn't have any practice. We didn't know the plays. We just went out and played hard. It's contagious. Everybody else did the same thing.

"I keep saying energy, but that's how it feels. Everyone is enthusiastic. It rubs off on everybody on the floor."

The Cavs' defense continues to improve with the two former Grizzlies.

"We prided ourselves with our defense in Memphis," Ellington said. "We're out there talking and communicating. It's second nature for us."

Scott agreed with that sentiment.

"They are experienced guys that know how to play," he said. "They fit in extremely well with our guys. They seem like they've been here more than four or five days. The camaraderie I've always talked about, you've got to have that kind of camaraderie and that chemistry, and I think that's what we have right now. And just the fact that our guys are much more comfortable in what we're doing and all the work that they've put in is starting to play out."

The Cavs are 8 1/2 games behind the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

"You can't count us out," Ellington said.

The veteran shooting guard can shoot from behind the arc. In 42 games overall this season, he's shooting 43.3 percent from the 3-point line. In two games with the Cavs, he checks in at 57.1 percent from deep.